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News
Business continues at General Synod in Newcastle
Archbishops of Dublin and Armagh with the Assessor at General Synod.
Day Two at General Synod in Newcastle included the final presentation of bills on clergy tenure to encapsulate approved wording on long term health, disciplinary process and breakdown of relationships in parishes.
One of the main items on the agenda was the work of the Representative Church Body and the Chair of the RB Executive, Hilary Prentice, outlined the breadth of the work undertaken by RCB.
During discussions, the shrinking number of stipendiary clergy was highlighted.
There were references to how the RCB continues to advocate for reducing the carbon impact of the RCB and church activities with a focus on energy usage, transportation, waste and biodiversity. Following a survey of parishes in 2025, the RCB applied to Benefact Trust for grant funding to run a building energy efficiency competition and to enable them to provide follow on grants.
The Benefact Trust awarded a grant of £200,000 to run a competition to encourage projects designed to cut carbon emissions in churches, and in addition the Church Fabric and Development Fund provided £100,000 in support for the competition.
Revd Rebecca Guildea, Rector of the Garrison Group of parishes in Clogher Diocese, commended the grants for improving environmental provision for churches but felt there was a blackspot for rectories which are widely used for parish activities. She urged that some grants should be made available to parishes to help with improvements to rectories which would help reduce heating and lighting costs.
Delegates and visitors at General Synod.
Canon Jen McWhirter with Canon John McClenaghan and his wife Carol.
Some of the representatives from Clogher Diocese at General Synod.